American Exceptualism Rudy
Giuliani was espousing his opinion to Fox News that Barack Obama did not
love America and didn’t brag enough about “American Exceptionalism.”

Fur Is Not Chic When my 25-pound
dog stepped in a toothed steel leg hold trap a few ft off the trail, I
learned how “unchic” fur is. I had to carry her out two miles to get to a
vet.

Which Is More Dangerous? Just
a couple of thoughts I had in response to the letters by Gordon Lee
Dean and Jarin Weber in the Feb. 23 issue. Mr. Dean claims that there
have been zero deaths from the measles in the past ten years.

Real Action on Climate In
“Climate Madness” in the Feb. 9 issue, the writer points out that
scientists are all but unanimous and that large numbers of people agree:
global warming poses a threat to future generations.

Real Science Wolfgang
Pauli, the Nobel Prize winning Austrian-born theoretical physicist, was
known not only for his work in postulating the existence of the
neutrino but feared for his razor-edged humor.

Up in smoke/ Stupak‘s view/ Looking ahead

Up in smoke: two proposed coal plants in Rogers City & Bay CityPlans for two new coal plants in Rogers City and Bay City werescuttled last week, raising hope in Michigans environmental communitythat power companies will pursue a cleaner path to producingelectricity.Last week, Gov. Jennifer Granholm denied an air quality permit forWolverine Power Supply Cooperatives proposed coal burning plant inRogers City. The governors decision was based on input from theMichigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE),which had issues with the economic benefits of the plant, in additionto air quality concerns.Wolverine Power has the option ofappealing the decision.Reaction to the news was mixed.Tom Karas of the Michigan EnergyAlternatives Project (MEAP), which has led the fight against new coal plants inMichigan, issued a blog noting that theRogers City plant would have raised electricity rates significantly. Wolverines air permit for its proposed coal plant in Rogers Citywas denied because, according to the States letter, the plant simplywas not needed, there were cheaper options, and the power it generatedwould be extremely expensive, Karas said.In an opinion piece from the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI), editor JimDulzo commented on the controversy in Rogers City over the proposedplant. The environmental and land use think tank has spent the pastthree years building a case against the project.We found a town where most everyone fiercely supported the plant,Dulzo said of his initial visit to Rogers City in July, 2007.Desperate for economic development, they saw the 50 or 100 permanentjobs the plant would bring as pure gold. Who could ever blame them?But we also found brave people willing to speak out, againstoverwhelming social pressure, and say what needed to be said -- thatthere was no need for the plant; that it would change Rogers Cityprofoundly, and for the worse; that it would, sooner or later, damagethe communitys health by harming its air and water; and that it wouldgreatly boost electricity rates for 200,000 Michigan families andbusinesses.Dulzo added that the proposed plant would have increased the cost ofits customers electricity by close to 60 percent.

STUPAK‘S VIEWU.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee), an ardent supporter of theproposed coal plant, blasted the States decision.Governor Granholms decision to deny Wolverine Powers air permit fora new power plant in Rogers City is a blow to Michigans economy andprevents Northern Michigan from helping to establish the state as aleader in new energy technologies, Stupak said in a release. Thisproject was an opportunity to create much-needed jobs and meetMichigans energy needs, while remaining consistent with the goal ofproducing cleaner energy.Stupak said the denial of the permit would mean the loss of anestimated 2,800 construction jobs in addition to 50-100 permanent jobsin Rogers City, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in thestate.It also signals a continuation ofMichigans reliance on inefficient power plants with high rates ofpollution constructed 40 to 50 years ago, Stupak said.He noted that the proposed plant has been approved for funding via agrant from the U.S. Department of Energy and has the potential ofreceiving an additional $147 million in federal funding for cleanenergy and job creation.The Wolverine Power Clean Energy Venture Project was designed toutilize carbon capture and sequestration technologies, co-fire 20percent of its fuel from biomass, and construct more than 50 megawattsof clean wind energy, Stupak said.

LOOKING AHEADBut Dulzo noted that the nation is trending away from coal power as anenergy option.The Rogers City plant is, I believe, the 107th one cancelled in theU.S. in the last several years, he said. The American wind industrynow employs more people than the American coal industry. The rest ofthe world -- led by China -- is headed away from coal as quickly as itcan. This is not ideology. It is not a prediction. It is a fact.Wolverine should invest the $1.3 billion it was going to spend oncoal on efficiency measures for all of its customers, and charge themfor it, Dulzo added. Everyone will save money, and lots of peoplewill get good, long-lasting jobs.Last week also brought a decision by Consumers Energy to suspend itsplans for a new coal-fired plant near Bay City.Karas of MEAP said he hoped thatWolverine Power would take Consumers decision to heart and pursuecleaner energy projects.Consumers announcement strongly validates the MDNRE decision of May21 to deny an air permit to Wolverine largely due to economicrealities, Karas said in a release.Hans Voss, executive director of the MLUI, said the decisions set thestage for cleaner energy projects in Michigan.Two coal plants have fallen in less than a week, Voss said. Nowits time for Lansing to do its part, and make sure Michigan has aclear path toward rebuilding its economy by creating jobs in energyefficiency, wind and solar power, and other new energy technologies.